Housing for a fiber optic connector

Abstract

A housing for a fiber optic connector includes an opening extending between a front end and a rear end, and having an integral spring stop surface between the front end and the rear end. A front section receives an elastic member into the opening from the front end and the elastic member is engageable with the integral spring stop of the housing. There is a middle section of the main body to transition optical fibers between a fiber optic ferrule and a fiber optic cable. A rear section of the main body has an outer surface to engage a crimp ring.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A housing for a fiber optic connector comprising:
 a main body with an opening extending between a front end and a rear end, wherein the main body has a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls on opposing sides of the main body to define the opening;   a front section of the main body to receive an elastic member into the opening from the front end;   a middle section of the main body to transition optical fibers between a fiber optic ferrule and a fiber optic cable; and   a rear section of the main body having an outer surface having a cylindrical geometry to engage a crimp ring,   wherein the main body includes a first pair of shoulders at a junction of the top wall and the two side walls and a second pair of shoulders at a junction of the bottom wall and the two side walls for guidance of the fiber optic connector into an adapter or a receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear section has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion removably attachable to the first portion. 
     
     
         3 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the first portion and the second portion have recesses and the other of the first portion and the second portion have extensions to engage the recesses. 
     
     
         4 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing fully surrounds a rear portion of the elastic member when the elastic member is received into the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the front section has forward facing surfaces in the opening to engage the elastic member. 
     
     
         6 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the front section of the main body has a forward facing end face, the forward facing end face being non-perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through the opening from the front end to the rear end. 
     
     
         7 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an integral spring stop forward of the rear section and configured to engage a rear end of the elastic member.   
     
     
         8 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein an outside surface of the main body has at least one depression to receive a portion of a fiber optic ferrule receiver therein. 
     
     
         9 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body of the housing has a length that is more than a half of a length of the fiber optic connector when assembled. 
     
     
         10 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is elliptical and has a chamfer at the front end of the main body. 
     
     
         11 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of latch arms extending from the main body in a rearward direction and away from the front end. 
     
     
         12 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the rear section of the main body extends beyond the plurality of latch arms. 
     
     
         13 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of latch arms engage a portion of a push-pull boot. 
     
     
         14 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a spring and the extends from the opening and beyond the front end of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the rear end creates asymmetric portion of the opening at the rear end. 
     
     
         16 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear section has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion removably attachable to the first portion and further comprising a latch arm that is attached to the second portion of the rear section. 
     
     
         17 . A housing for a fiber optic connector comprising:
 a main body with an opening extending between a front end and a rear end, and having an integral spring stop surface between the front end and the rear end;   a front section of the main body to receive an elastic member into the opening from the front end, the elastic member engageable with the integral spring stop of the housing;   a middle section of the main body to transition optical fibers between a fiber optic ferrule and a fiber optic cable;   a rear section of the main body having a cylindrical outer surface to engage a crimp ring with the rear section,   wherein the main body includes a plurality of shoulders extending from the front end to the rear end at corners of the main body where side walls of the main body meet a top wall and a bottom wall of the main body.   
     
     
         18 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 17 , wherein the rear section has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion removably attachable to the first portion. 
     
     
         19 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 18 , further comprising a latch arm that is attached to the second portion of the rear section. 
     
     
         20 . The housing for a fiber optic connector according to  claim 18 , wherein the first portion and the second portion when joined form a crimp body of the fiber optic connector.